St. Mary's Falls
- Hike
- 4.3 mi round trip
- Road
- Gravel
- Permit
- Not required
St. Mary's Falls is a waterfall on St. Mary's River in Augusta County, Virginia. Reaching it is a 4.3 mi hike round trip. Flow season is not on file yet.
Closures and warnings
Multiple stream crossings; water can be high. Wilderness group size limited to 10. Camping prohibited within 500 ft of the falls; campfires prohibited within 150 ft of the falls and parking lot. As of September 28, 2026.
The falls
| Flow note | Popular wilderness waterfall on the St. Mary's River with pools along the approach; height not stated on the USFS order page. |
|---|
| Water type | Waterfall basin |
|---|
Access
| Hike | 4.3 mi round trip |
|---|---|
| Road | Gravel |
| Road note | Trailhead at the end of Saint Mary's Road (FDR #41); wilderness trail is intentionally lightly marked. |
| Parking | Saint Mary's parking lot at the end of Saint Mary's Road (FDR #41), Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger District. |
| Reservation or permit | Not required |
| Managed by | USDA Forest Service (George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Saint Mary's Wilderness) |
| Note | Wilderness setting; pack out all trash. Group size limited to 10 people. |
|---|
Rules
| Camping | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| Fires | Not allowed |
Common questions
Common questions
Is St. Mary's Falls open?
Multiple stream crossings; water can be high. Wilderness group size limited to 10. Camping prohibited within 500 ft of the falls; campfires prohibited within 150 ft of the falls and parking lot. As of September 28, 2026.
How long is the hike to St. Mary's Falls?
It's a 4.3 mi hike round trip. The road in is gravel. Trailhead at the end of Saint Mary's Road (FDR #41); wilderness trail is intentionally lightly marked. Parking: Saint Mary's parking lot at the end of Saint Mary's Road (FDR #41), Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger District.
Do you need a reservation for St. Mary's Falls?
No reservation or permit is required.
When is St. Mary's Falls flowing?
Popular wilderness waterfall on the St. Mary's River with pools along the approach; height not stated on the USFS order page.
What are the rules at St. Mary's Falls?
Camping is not allowed and fires are not allowed.
Nearby
Camping nearby
Fishing nearby
Public land
St. Mary's Falls is inside George Washington and Jefferson National Forest and Saint Mary's Wilderness .
Sources
3
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/gwj/alerts/saint-marys-wilderness-prohibitions (accessed September 28, 2026; backs manager / rules.camping, hazardNote, access.permitRequired false / waterfall.ephemeral false / access.roadSurface gravel)
- https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/saint-marys-falls-trail (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.hikeDistanceMi)
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/gwj/alerts/special-regulations-apply-when-visiting-wilderness-areas (accessed September 28, 2026; backs waterfall.flowNote / access.amenities.note)
More: Virginia waterfalls